Mike Moroney pair on road to summer racing riches
Mike Moroney is looking forward to the return to the racetrack of Elkington Road after a setback ruled him out of the spring.
Elkington Road runs in the Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday in which he will be joined by stablemate Jungle Jim.
A winner of three races on wet tracks, Moroney said Elkington Road had overcome little issues’ and was looking forward to seeing the gelding on top of the ground.
“We were thinking this is not the right time of the year to bring him back because he wants give in the ground,” Moroney said.
“But those issues seem to have gone past him now and I’ve trialled him on top of the ground and he’s been impressive, and he’s shown no signs of jarring up on the firmer ground.”
Elkington Road showed an abundance of early ability, winning his first two starts on heavy ground at Sandown and Flemington before running tenth in the Caulfield Guineas, beaten 1-¾ lengths.
He returned in the autumn, finishing fourth in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington first-up and was beaten 3-¼ lengths in the Australian Guineas, before winning on soft ground at Sandown later on.
“He’s come back terrific. I think he’s in for a really good campaign and I think he’s an under-rated horse,” Moroney said.
Stablemate Jungle Jim already has a run under the belt and Moroney said the sprinter will be in for a busy summer campaign.
Jungle Jim finished sixth to Taunting at Cranbourne on November 25 with the trainer saying the sprinter was underdone for his first-up assignment.
“He usually takes a run, and we went into the race off one jump-out,” Moroney said.
“We decided to use that race rather give him another jump-out as we knew he would be in for a bit of racing over the summer.
“He’s had a lot go wrong. He’s had two wind operations, but he’s got through those fine, that’s why he’s lightly raced, but he’s got some talent on his day.
“He’ll probably lead. He’s a very fast horse. He’s got good barrier speed and there’s not many that can head him off early.”
More Racing News
Cosmic Crusader set for Victorian debut in Bletchingly Stakes
Trainer Andrea Leek is yet to pinpoint the exact spring campaign for Cosmic Crusader, but she is anticipating his racecourse return this Saturday.The Group 1-winning Western Australian gelding is scheduled to make his Victorian racing debut in the $200,000 Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes, a 1200m contest at Caulfield.This five-year-old entire,...
Randwick trials see Waller's stars return
A significant contingent of Chris Waller's established racehorses, prominently featuring the acclaimed mare Autumn Glow, commenced their spring preparations at Randwick on Monday morning.The initial three trials, all conducted over 900 metres on the Kensington track following a postponement from Friday due to wet conditions, showcased numerous Group 1 winners...
Concord Connie eyes Victorian Group 1 success
Charlotte Littlefield, the Pakenham-based trainer, is opting against chasing substantial prize money in interstate races with Concord Connie, focusing instead on securing a Group 1 win within Victoria.The exciting mare, Concord Connie, has undergone four weeks of preparation and is being readied for her return, with the Group 1 Empire...
Midnight Dynamite's Path to the Big Dance After Rosehill Win
Connections of Midnight Dynamite are keen to see the horse contest a $3 million prize following his commanding performance in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.Having added Saturday's stakes race to his triumph in last month's Listed Civic Stakes (1400m), the gelding is now slated for the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m)...
Bold Soul's future may be over jumps after Flemington success
Connections have found Bold Soul, trained by Patrick Payne, to be a good earner on the flat, but his future might be better suited to hurdles.Bold Soul secured the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, adding to his seven prior wins from 33 starts and boosting...
Sword Of Legacy's determined win follows Band Of Brothers' Ramornie success
Matthew Dunn's stable has enjoyed a prosperous week, capped by Sword Of Legacy's hard-fought victory at Rosehill. This triumph arrived just three days after Band Of Brothers, carrying the same lime, purple, and gold Hesket Thoroughbreds silks of David Moodie, captured the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.Sword Of Legacy, sent out...
Ko Phangan claims Byerley Handicap at Flemington
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable continues its impressive run in qualifying races for Classic contenders with Ko Phangan's recent victory at Flemington.Ko Phangan's win in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) secures a coveted ballot exemption for either the Victoria Derby (2500m) or the VRC Oaks (2500m) during the Melbourne...
Joint Venture earns carnival ticket with Rosehill triumph
A late-developing two-year-old, Joint Venture, is now in contention for the initial three-year-old feature races after securing a crucial win at Rosehill.The impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible, a $625,000 yearling acquisition for the Newgate stallions syndicate, displayed significant progress from his debut second at Wyong, asserting his class...
Betwitchery ready to extend winning streak first-up
Betwitchery is set to extend her winning sequence as she makes her return to the racetrack at Flemington.The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained mare is scheduled to begin her new racing campaign in the VRC Member Brendan Sobozynski Plate, a 1200-metre contest, this Saturday.Betwitchery, who has won five...
Littlefield targets Magnolia Cup after Flemington engagements
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is scheduled to travel back to the UK in approximately a week to participate in a charity race at the renowned Glorious Goodwood Festival.The Magnolia Cup is a distinguished charity event this year supporting Education Above All. It aims to gather funds to ensure access to education,...